Transcript Developing
Verbals and Verbal Phrases
What is a Verbal?
Verbals are formed from verbs, however, they
do not function as verbs in a sentence.
They function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
There are THREE types of verbals:
Participles
Gerunds
Infinitives
Participles and Participial
Phrases
A participle is a verb form that is used as
an adjective.
The rapidly developing storm kept small
boats in port.
Developing rapidly, the storm kept small
boats in ports.
The storm, developing rapidly, kept small
boats in port.
Present and Past Participles
The present participle is a verb form
ending in -ing that is used as an adjective.
developing, crying, barking
The past participle is a verb form ending
in –ed, -d, -t, -en, or –n.
asked, saved, dealt, eaten, seen
“The puppies, exhausted, collapsed in the
grass.”
Gerunds
Gerunds are verb forms that end in –ing
that are used as nouns only.
Walking is healthful exercise.
Good writing comes from much practice.
They do not appreciate my singing.
We were fined for parking there.
Infinitives
Infinitives are verbals that can be used as
a noun or an adjective or an adverb.
Infinitives are the base verb form
preceded by “to”
to study, to write, to hope, to be
Infinitives as Nouns
Usually, infinite verbals are nouns.
To leave would be rude.
To leave is the subject of the sentence.
No one wants to stay.
• To stay is the direct object of the sentence.
Her goal is to win.
• To win is the predicate noun in the
sentence.
Infinitives used as modifiers
She is the candidate to watch.
To watch modifies candidate and is an
adjective.
We came to cheer.
To cheer modifies came and is an
adverb.